LHD Budget Cuts and Job Losses

Slow Economic Rebound for Public Health, New Data Show Local Health Departments Continue to Lose Jobs

Since 2008 local health departments shed nearly 44,000 jobs, according to the results from NACCHO’s most recent job losses and program cuts survey. Although workforce losses and gains were roughly equal in 2012, 41 percent of local health departments nationwide experienced some type of reduction in workforce capacity. During 2012, 48 percent of all local health departments reduced or eliminated services in at least one program area. More than a quarter (27 percent) of local health departments reported budget cuts, a sizeable drop compared to the percentage of local health departments reporting cuts in previous years. However, local health departments reporting cuts still exceed the percentage of local health departments reporting budget increases (23 percent).